Since I’m writing my introduction last I will go ahead and say that I was not ready to give this album a chance upon hearing that Kanye West was going to do the entire thing in auto-tune. However, after just three tracks I had an entirely different respect for Kanye’s creative capabilities. That’s not to say that 808s & Heartbreak is an instant classic or anything of the sort, it just features a few tracks that have a Michael Jackson mystique about them just like he said they would.

Kanye gives his listeners no chance to get adjusted to his new singing gig as he opens the album on a love ballad note somewhat reminiscent to some Coming To America type shit over foreign sounding drums on “Say You Will.” On “Welcome To Heartbreak” Kanye takes a rather objective look at the cons of his lavish lifestyle compared to the pros of a normal life.  The great thing about this album is the amount of diversity that it offers from the beginning second. That diversity is pushed to the limit on the European sounding “Heartless.” 

Def Jam associate Young Jeezy turns in an incredible sixteen over the hopeful backdrop of “Amazing.” I honestly had a big thing against “Love Lockdown” when Kanye delivered it for the first time at the MTV Video Music Awards but after listening to the meat of the album it definitely fits even though its not the best offering. For that matter neither are “Paranoid” or “Robocop.” In fact each sound like some shit stolen from the Ferris Buellers Day Off soundtrack.

After Kanye decides to come off his 80’s kick he doubles back with more a more enjoyable effort like  “Street Lights.” Though he’s contested it up until this point Kanye seems to be speaking to a certain someone who influenced a large part of this album on the violin laced “Bad News.” Unfortunately the Lil Wayne assisted “See You In My Nightmares” turns out to be one of the albums biggest busts. Kanye uses the album’s last two offerings “Coldest Winter” as well as the live freestyle “Pinnochio Story” he did in Singapore to pay tribute to his mother who passed just over a year ago.  

Kanye West uses his fourth studio release to push his own creative envelope well past the limits that most rappers could only dream of attempting. 808s & Heartbreaks shows just how much of a musical genius Kanye West really is. This album has the ability to appease both rich Republicans as well as down and out Democrats. Kanye displays more of his personal yet non-monetary triumphs as well as some of his deepest self sympathies.

VERDICT – 15 / 20
LYRICS: 4
PRODUCTION: 4
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 4